16 Top Resorts in Egypt

Whether you're in Egypt to visit the temples and tombs of the Pharaonic era, the rippling dunes of the country's vast desert regions, or to check out the Red Sea's diving, Egypt's resorts provide the softest landing in the country.

Some resorts are historic sights themselves. These are the surviving feted hotels of Egypt's first tourism boom, which once played host to famous archaeologists, writers, and travelers which have now been transformed into luxury heritage hotel resorts.

Other resorts are thoroughly modern affairs, built to fit the needs of traveling families looking for a stress-free Egypt trip.

Resort prices tend to vary throughout the year. The peak season for foreign travelers arriving in Egypt includes the months of November through to February, when winter heralds milder temperatures so accommodation rates tend to be higher.

The best bargains are usually snagged in the shoulder seasons of March and April, and September and October as prices rise again during summer due to the Egyptian school vacations.

Research the best options with our list of the best resorts in Egypt.

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan

Probably Egypt's most famous hotel, the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan is an opulent hideaway overlooking the Nile.

Opened in 1902, Agatha Christie is said to have written part of Death on the Nile here, and the hotel has hosted many other literary legends and famous travelers, including King Farouk, Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, and the archaeologist Howard Carter.

In 2011, Sofitel took over the resort, and it went through a major renovation that has thoroughly restored the rooms and grounds to a grandness that befits its historic status while revamping the facilities for 21st-century luxury needs.

With three restaurants, including the famous 1902 Restaurant serving French haute cuisine, this is the most stylish dining scene in Upper Egypt. High tea, taken on the hotel terrace, with its views over to Elephantine Island, is a must-do while staying here.

The So Spa offers guests high-class pampering after a day of sailing around the islands that speckle the Nile, with a hammam (Turkish bath) and grand pillar-rimmed indoor pool.

The resort grounds spread out along the Nile bank, with the infinity pool overlooking riverine life, while inside the decoration effortlessly blends fine, classic French design and palatial Arabic style.

The room choice here offers something for all styles of travelers. The classic-European interior design of the palace rooms, in the hotel's older wing, complete with art deco nods to the resplendent fashions of the early 20th century, will please anyone who wants to bask in the historic ambience of the hotel.

In the modern wing, the rooms have a more contemporary feel. All come with balconies with views either across the lush manicured gardens of the resort or looking out to the Nile.

Address: Abtal El Tahrir Street, Aswan

Marriott Mena House, Cairo

You can't get any nearer to the Giza Pyramids than this. The Marriott Mena House Hotel sits right next door to the main entrance to the pyramid plateau, with many rooms boasting direct views out to the pyramids themselves.

Another one of Egypt's surviving grand dame hotels, Mena House's rambling lush gardens and interior of ornate chandeliers, arches, and wood paneling immediately transports you to days-gone-by grandeur. It is, by far, Cairo's most relaxing resort option.

For your stay, choose from either the historic wing, where traditional Arabic design continues into the rooms, or the modern wing, with rooms decked out in a classic French style. All have balconies either looking over the palm tree grounds or the pyramids.

For the ultimate experience, it is well worth upgrading to a pyramid-view room because it's not often in life you get to throw your curtains open in the morning and feast your eyes on one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The swimming pool is a great cooling-off option after a dusty day exploring the pyramids, while for dinner, you can either feast on Indian classics within the regal confines of the Moghul Room, Italian at Alfredo Restaurant, or Middle Eastern cuisine at 139 Restaurant.

Address: 6 Pyramids Road, Giza, Cairo

Four Seasons Resort Sharm el-Sheikh

The Four Seasons Sharm el-Sheikh is an exclusive hideaway, inspired by traditional Arabian architecture and set amid palm tree gardens that roll down to a stretch of private white-sand beach.

Accents of arabesque architecture and interior design continue within the elegant and expansive rooms, suites, chalets, and villas. All are designed to make the most of indoor-outdoor living, with large balconies or terraces.

Whether you're in Sharm el-Sheikh for a getaway purely about relaxation or to explore the famed coral reefs of the Red Sea, the Four Seasons caters to every kind of traveler, with top-class service and facilities.

The resort's own house reef is accessed just off the private beach, so excellent snorkeling amid the Red Sea's fish life is only a skip away, while diving day trips to all of Sharm's dive sites, including to Ras Mohammed National Park, are easily arranged with the Four Season's on-site dive center.

If you're here to simply soak up the sun and sea, though, the four swimming pools, as well as the beach, provide plenty of room for relaxation. For extra pampering, the Four Seasons Spa offers rejuvenating treatments that incorporate ancient Egyptian beauty treatments.

Vacationing families will find younger guests well looked after here, with the Kids For All Seasons Program offering a wide variety of daily activities, from arts and crafts to nature walks and beach games.

The resort's particular attention to detail continues with their dining options, which provide something for everyone, Eight restaurants, from Lebanese dishes at Zitouni to pan-Asian flavors at Yatai offer a range of experiences, from casual poolside or beachfront eating to intimate fine dining.

Address: 1 Four Seasons Boulevard, El-Salam, Sharm el-Sheikh

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

This is the most luxurious place to stay in Luxor.

The Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa sits beside the Nile, near the Temples of Karnak, on the East Bank. The large grounds trail along the waterfront, cosseted within manicured gardens that provide a cocoon of comfort from Luxor's bustle.

Inside, guests can lounge beside the large swimming pool that overlooks the Nile and out to the rust-toned hills of the West Bank beyond.

The 236 rooms are decked out in European style, and all have balconies. It's worth upgrading, so you can wake up in the morning to Nile views.

After your sightseeing is finished for the day, the Hilton Spa here offers a range of soothing treatments and massages that are a relaxing way to unwind after a day in the dust and heat.

Dining options are excellent, with three restaurants. The Silk Road Restaurant here specializes in pan-Asian cuisine and is one of Luxor's top dining destinations.

Address: New Karnak, Luxor

Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh

Located on Sahl Hasheesh Bay (27 kilometers south of Hurghada city), one of Egypt's most exclusive stretches of sand, the five-star Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh offers a high-end luxury vacation experience for both families and couples.

The hotel is wrapped around a vast swimming pool area, while the resort's manicured gardens lead down to a wide stretch of white-sand beach, both featuring cabanas for shade and extra privacy.

While families will appreciate the resort's kids' club, with its changing program of activities, as well as the dedicated playground areas and the kids-stay-free policy, romantic breakers benefit from Baron Palace's adult-only zones, with sections of the beach and some of the eight restaurants, as well as sections of the accommodation, reserved for adults.

The elegant, European-styled rooms and suites here all have ample space and come with balconies, many with sea views. To make the most of resort living, upgrade to one of the swim-up rooms with direct pool access and a terrace.

Address: Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada

Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah

Have the best of both worlds in Cairo. The Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah is right in the center of the city, but as it is secluded amid lush gardens on the western end of El Gezirah Island (also known as Zamalek) on the Nile, it's a tranquil hideaway from the city's noise and bustle.

The Nile views are this resort's ace-card. Both the swimming pool and beautiful pontoon terrace offer close-up river views, while the contemporary-styled rooms all boast vistas of the Nile. Bag a room on the higher floors to wake up to the best river view in the city.

There are three restaurants on-site, including La Palmeraie, one of Cairo's only upmarket Moroccan cuisine restaurants.

After a long day amid the souqs, exploring Cairo's museums, or heading out to the Giza Plateau to see the famed pyramids, the Sofitel Spa here offers up a relaxing respite, with pampering facial treatments and soothing massages.

Address: 3 Al Thawra Council Street, Zamalek, Cairo

Savoy Sharm el-Sheikh

The Savoy Sharm el-Sheikh, on Soho Square, 13 kilometers northwest of central Sharm el-Sheikh, is in a prime spot on South Sinai's sought-after coastline.

Whether you want to sloth on the beach all day or head below the surface to explore the Red Sea's renowned coral reefs, this 414-room resort caters to all types of beachgoers.

With a private slice of groomed golden-sand beach plus five swimming pools, there's a sun-lounger for everyone, while tennis courts and a dive operator keep active guests busy.

During the evening, diners have an excellent choice of dinner options with six restaurants within the resort.

Families are well looked after with a kids-stay-free policy, kids' club, dedicated children's swimming pool, and play area plus babysitting facilities.

All rooms are classically styled and come with balconies overlooking the pool, gardens, or beach.

For those looking for a more exclusive experience, the Royal Savoy Hotel & Villas complex inside the main resort offers its own private beach, terrace, swimming pool, and contemporary-styled suite rooms and villas.

Address: Soho Square, Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula

Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

One of Egypt's best-known heritage hotels, the Sofitel Winter Palace sits in a prime central location in Luxor, overlooking the Nile.

In business since 1886, this hotel has hosted royalty and all the big names of Egypt's travel over its long years.

If you can, bag yourself a suite in the heritage wing, where the decor drips with late-19th-century French style. If ornate grandeur isn't your thing, though, the modern wing offers spacious rooms in a more classic-modern European style.

There's a swimming pool amid the tranquil palm-lined garden, and the fine-dining 1886 Restaurant specializes in French-Mediterranean cuisine.

Address: Corniche El Nile, Luxor

Rixos Sharm el-Sheikh

This mega-resort of 695 rooms at Nabq Bay (20 kilometers northwest of Sharm el-Sheikh's central Naama Bay) is one of South Sinai's top spots for a sun-soaked holiday.

It's all about facilities at the Rixos Sharm el-Sheikh, with the resort fringed by a long swoop of beach and several swimming pools amid the manicured gardens.

Families are well catered for with a separate pool area containing waterslides and play areas plus a kids-stay-free policy, while diners are unlikely to get bored with a selection of restaurants that offers a globe-trotting variety of cuisines that bounces from Turkish classics and Japanese cooking to Brazilian specialties.

Water sports fans will be pleased, as windsurfing lessons and diving trips are easily organized within the resort, while those seeking a few hours of pure relaxation can head to the spa, which offers a bundle of facial and body treatments and massages, as well as a hammam (Turkish bath) experience.

Address: Nabq Bay, Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula

Al Moudira Hotel Luxor

The boutique Al Moudira Hotel on Luxor's west bank is the most tranquil place to base yourself while exploring Egypt's most famous Pharaonic ruins. With only 54 rooms, this is a much more intimate resort option than most in Egypt.

Rooms are lavishly outfitted with traditional Arabic design accents - many come with domes, arches, tile-work, stained-glass feature windows, and four-poster beds.

The outdoor swimming pool is perfect for a dip after a long day amid the temples and tombs of the West Bank and Al Moudira Restaurant offers up excellent Mediterranean dishes either amid the pillars, arches, and mashrabiya screens of the traditional dining room or outside in the courtyard, shaded by palms.

Address: West Bank, Luxor

Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort

If you want to explore the diving sites of the Red Sea's deep south, the Hilton Marsa Alam Nubian Resort is a great base.

An excellent dive operator is on site for all your dive trip needs, while those happy to stay on the surface have fantastic snorkeling, with plenty of fish life right off the resort's long golden-sand beach.

Rooms are decorated in a modern style, focused on clean lines and soft neutrals, and all have balconies with views over either the sea or palm tree-speckled gardens.

Off the beach, diners have a good range of restaurant options that offer guests a choice of cuisines, from classic European to Middle Eastern menus, and there are four swimming pools to choose from, including one specifically adults-only and one focused on children.

Address: Kilometer 97, Marsa Alam Road, Abo Dabab Bay, Marsa Alam

Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor

The large Steigenberger Nile Palace resort, on Luxor's east bank, is a popular base for visitors exploring the remnants of Ancient Thebes.

It's a good-value resort choice for traveling families seeking an easygoing Luxor stay.

Nearly all the modern, comfortable rooms come with balconies overlooking the city or the Nile. It's well worthwhile to upgrade to a river-view room.

Free bike hire for guests is a major plus of a stay here for active guests, while the large swimming pool provides a cooling respite after the dust and heat of a day out amid the tombs and temples of the West Bank.

There is an excellent choice of dining, with restaurants specializing in world cuisines that range from Lebanese specialties to Italian classics.

If you do want to dine out, this hotel's location is great. It's a very easy walk to Luxor's most popular restaurants from here.

Address: Khalid bin Al Walid Street, Luxor

Mövenpick Resort Aswan

Taking over the northern third of Elephantine Island, the Mövenpick Resort Aswan is an oasis within Egypt's most southern city.

Centrally located, yet hidden away, the resort's grounds, surrounding the accommodation, include an organic farm with a vast orchard of 2,500 fruit trees, and lush swoops of palm-shaded gardens.

Due to the natural surroundings, the resort is a popular pick with keen birdwatchers and a birdwatching station is also set up within the grounds.

Rooms at this five-star are suitably stately, with elements of traditional Nubian design blended into the interior design, which leans on a palette of soft neutrals.

All rooms come with balconies which look out over the gardens. Upgrade to a room on a higher floor for a sweeping vista of the Nile.

There are three restaurants onsite that provide some of the best panoramic Nile vistas of any dining options in Aswan.

Of particular note, Mezze Restaurant serves upmarket versions of traditional Egyptian cooking, including Nubian specialties, with views across to the Tombs of the Nobles on Aswan's west bank.

Sightseeing is made easy by free boat transfers connecting the hotel's dock to Aswan town on the east bank, and the Nubian villages and ancient ruins of Elephantine Island just on the doorstep. While felucca (Egyptian sailing boat) day trips and other touring activities in the Aswan area are easily arranged.

If you want to spend some time simply relaxing though, there's a large pool area with plenty of space for soaking up the sunshine, and the resort's spa is on hand for all pampering needs.

Address: Elephantine Island, Aswan

Desert Rose Resort

The soft white-sand strip of the Desert Rose Resort's private beach, which trails for one kilometer and sweeps around a sheltered lagoon, makes this resort a beach vacation paradise.

This good-value resort is a family favorite in Hurghada's main resort strip, with a bundle of family-friendly facilities.

There's a kids' club, an outdoor playground park featuring a swimming pool with waterslides, regular evening entertainment, and events focused on children, as well as Desert Rose's kids-stay-free policy and kids' menus in all five restaurants.

Adults, and older kids, also have plenty to do off the sand, with scuba diving, horse riding, and windsurfing among the many activities that are easily arranged.

Address: Kilometer 16, Safaga Road, Hurghada

Taziry Ecolodge Siwa

Famed since ancient times as home to the Oracle of Amun, Siwa oasis is a desert daydream of a place.

For those who want to explore the ruins, hot springs, and surrounding desert dunes of this area, Taziry Eco-lodge is an excellent base.

This small resort, sitting in splendid isolation right beside Siwa Lake, is one of Siwa's only eco-lodges. It uses stone, traditional mud brick, and palm thatch in its architecture - and no electricity.

Thoroughly romantic, at night the resort is lit only by candles and oil lamps. There's no Wi-Fi, so this is the perfect opportunity to log off for a day or two and instead take in the magnificent desert scenery.

There's a swimming pool for cooling off at the end of the day and a restaurant dishing up good Egyptian cookery.

Whether you want to head out into the Western Desert's dunes on a 4WD trip or camel trek, or head out and explore the historical sites of the oasis, the resort can arrange a variety of activities.

Address: 16km west of Shali, Siwa Oasis

Hilton Hurghada Plaza

The Hilton Hurghada Plaza is a great compromise for more independent-minded travelers who still want full resort facilities and comforts.

Within easy reach of central Hurghada (three kilometers from the downtown area), this resort's location offers guests easy opportunities to head out and explore the activities, shopping, and dining choices of Hurghada.

If you just want to relax, though, the Hilton Hurghada Plaza has its own palm-fringed stretch of private beach, plus a good-sized swimming pool and an on-site spa providing massages and traditional hammam (Turkish bath) rituals.

The beachfront Laphelia Restaurant specializes in seafood dishes, making the most of the Red Sea's bounty, which makes dining-in an easy choice for lazy evenings.

Rooms are bright and comfortable, decked out in a breezy palette of cream and blue, and all come with balconies, nearly all with sea views.

Address: Gabal El Hareem Street, Hurghada

Map of Resorts in Egypt